Skills and Objectives

Types of Introductory Paragraph

 Anecdote
 Interesting/ Surprising facts or statistics
 Historical
 Rhetorical Question
 Funnel / General to Specific
 Dialogue
 Definition
 Quotation
Anecdote
An anecdote is a brief story that illustrates your
topic.This could be a personal anecdote told in first
person using I, me, my, we, & our, or even an
anecdote told in third person using the pronouns he,
she, they, him, her, them, his, their, and theirs.
Example:
I got off the train and pulled my luggage behind me. A
cab pulled up to the curb, and the driver got out. He
lifted my luggage and said, “Miss, I’m just going to put
your stuff in the boot.” I didn’t know what he meant
until I saw him open the car’s trunk. Then I realized the
boot means car trunk. I got in the cab, wondering how
many other words would be different in England.
Interesting/surprising facts or
statistics
This type introduces facts or numbers
taken from credible resources.
Here’s an example of a factual hook about
an essay on gun ownership in the United
States. Almost two-thirds of American adults at
some point in their life lived in a home with at
least one gun.
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2017/06/22
/americas-complex-relationship-with-guns/
Historical
This type provides general historical
background.
Example:
On December 7, 1941, at 0753 hours- the Japanese attacked the
American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Around 20
ships were sunk or damaged, 200 aircraft were destroyed, and
more than 2400 ...
Rhetorical Question
A rhetorical question is a question that you
ask without expecting an answer. It starts with a
question or a series of inspiring questions to lead
to your topic and ends up with a specific
statement that demonstrates the writer’s view or
answer to these questions.
Here’s an example of an interesting question hook on the
topic of succeeding in college:
What is the difference between successful college students and
unsuccessful college students?
The goal of this essay hook is to make you want to learn
what students who succeed in college do, and what are
college students who don’t succeed in college doing
wrong.
Funnel / General to Specific
 This type begins with a general opening
statement of the larger topic, and then each
sentence narrows it down until you get to
the specific thesis statement.
 Example:
For generations students have questioned the
value of the courses they must take in school.
They see no relationship between their classes
and the "real world" outside the classroom.
One course, math, is very valuable, however.
Therefore, all students should be required to
take at least four years of mathematics.
Dialogue
Dialogues are conversations
between two or more characters.
Example:
“I am coming home,” Sue
announced. “I am really tired and
can’t work anymore.”
“Okay, I think you should do that,”
her husband agreed.
Definition
 This type provides a clear definition of a
term. When a difficult or unfamiliar (new)
term is going to be used throughout the
essay, defining that term can serve as an
introduction to the essay.
Example:
Wi-Fi is the wireless local network between
nearby devices, such as wireless routers,
computers, smartphones, tablets, or external
drives.
Quotation
 Quotation (not necessarily by a famous
person): Quotations are used when
someone has clearly stated an opinion
he/she agrees with and that will give the
reader a clear idea of the point. The writer
starts with a quotation or proverb related to
the topic, explains the quote, and then
relates it to the topic.
 If you write an essay on the topic of
education you could begin with: Nelson
Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful
weapon you can use to change the world.”
Activity One:
 Read each introductory paragraph below.
Then identify the type of introduction that the
writer uses.
 For a long time, child abuse has been recorded in
literature, art and science in many parts of the
world. Reports on children killing, abandonment
and other forms of violence against children date
back to ancient civilizations. The historical record
is also filled with reports on weak and
malnourished children cast out by families. For a
long time also, there have been groups of
professionals who have advocated the protection
of children.
 People living in modern times have
benefitted from many discoveries and
inventions that have enriched the world.
Dedicated scientists have spent years
searching for new scientific knowledge
and discovering new ways to improve our
lives. The most recent discoveries to
benefit humankind in modern times are in
the field of television and computer
technology.
 How would you feel if you knew that a
criminal is writing your name, address, and
Social Security number on credit card
applications, and he is planning to charge
thousands of dollars worth of products on
those credit cards? More importantly, how
do you know that this is not happening?
Millions of people have become victims of
identity theft, and they often find out only
after thousands of dollars have been stolen
using their names.
 Tolerance means accepting and respecting
other people regardless of their differences
in attitudes, religions, and traditions. Without
it, there will be no peace at all! In fact, a
person is not allowed to upset others and
get his pleasure from their suffering and pain.
This is exactly what happened to our
classmate Adam who suffered because he
was badly treated by some nasty classmates.